World's Best Beaches
July

Naxos island, September, Greece

Best Beaches in June | August

Mediterranean:
- Many fantastic Greek beaches, see pictures
- Some enjoyable and characterful Turkish beaches, see pictures
- Some deservedly famous French beaches; the Cote d'Azur is overcrowded but Corsica beaches [island] are marginally less busy, less costly and more beautiful.
- There's still a little space left in Spain but generally it's overbuilt, overrun and overheated in July, though this is the best time for Spain's Atlantic Coast.
- Superb, dazzling, emerald seas and golden rocks of Sardinia and Lampedusa islands, Italy.
- Croatia beaches, not the Med, but the nearby Adriatic and one of Europe's fresh destinations, home to a handful of lovely, secluded and low cost beaches.

Pacific Ocean: See also Pacific Beach Pictures
- USA: Fine sands and warm waters in Hawaii and California.
- Chile: Anakena beach, Easter Island. Not a huge beach but soft sand, clear sea, palm trees and six huge moai monitoring the traffic.
- French Polynesia: Matira Beach, Bora Bora, one of the South Pacific's most famous beaches.
- Yasawa Islands, Fiji, lovely clear seas, coral and sandy beaches with good value backpacker hotels.
- One Foot Island Beach, islet of Aitutaki Island. Listed as one of the 'Unforgettable places to see before you die', a BBC Book.
- South coast of Ofu Island, American Samoa. A dramatic landscape and part of a National Park, with very few tourists.
- Lefaga Beaches and Aleipata Beach, Upolu island, Western Samoa. Relatively unknown but one of the prettiest beaches in the South Pacific.
- Ha'apai Beach, Foa island, Ha'apai islands, Tonga. Some of the least expensive destinations in the South Pacific with the friendliest locals.

Atlantic Ocean:
- USA: American beaches are huge and loaded with all the facilities that a family might need, but frequently over-developed. Florida is especially popular but super hot in July and storms may be looming.
- UK: The British coast is craggily attractive, the water temperature is tolerable now and Cornwall's beaches are best.
- Many excellent beaches in Portugal.
- Some great stretches of soft sand on the west coast of France, such as La Rochelle, Arcachon, Biarritz and St Jean de Luz.
- Essaouira, Morocco. A tranquil seaside resort popular with independent travelers.

Malaysia:
- Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort, a secluded, palm-fringed beach, or Kampung Juara for total serenity, Tioman Island.
- Long Beach, Kecil Island, Perhentian Islands. A popular destination for budget travelers.
- Redang Island, Redang archipelago, with a superb marine park, is excellent for scuba/snorkel addicts.
- Turtle Beach and Golden Beach, Similajau National Park, Sarawak. Well worth the hassle to get there for some of Malaysia's finest beaches.

Vietnam:
- China Beach, between Da Nang and Hoi An. An endless and unspoilt white strand.
- Mui Ne on 'the Vietnamese Riviera' is a delightful little town of friendly locals, with a splendid white sandy beach.

Beaches that are probably not a good idea in July:

Caribbean:
August to the end of October is the normal hurricane season but though hurricanes are rare [especially in southern islands], rain is not, the humidity can be oppressive and stormy, water may be rough and unclear and beaches garbed in seaweed.

Australia [North East Coast]:
- it's winter and water is chilly in southern Australia, go north but don't expect much surf, just toxic jellies.

Mexico:
Crowded, sticky, mosquito season....

Thailand
May - Oct is the worst time to go, particularly on the west coast due to heavy rains.
The Gulf [east] Coast has a less rain than the west but for longer, from June - Dec.